With just 5 ingredients and only 5 minutes prep time, this easy Cranberry Glazed Turkey Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe is a real crowd pleaser at holiday parties and for football game day snacking. It uses 100% juice and honey for a healthier glaze.
A bit more than a year ago I bought my first slow cooker, ever. And one of the initial things I made with it was a crockpot meatball recipe (closely following a festive bread pudding and a healthy chili).
I was still on maternity leave and my husband had started the slow cooker before he left in the morning. I remember how I woke up an hour later and thought somebody had broken in and started cooking in our kitchen!
The entire house smelled of really, really good food.
Needless to say, those Sticky BBQ Slow Cooker Meatballs are one of the most popular recipes on Savory Nothings! So I thought it would be unfair not to give you a different version.
Things have changed in the past year though, and apparently I now have a little meatball appetizer lover at home.
After I photographed these I quickly went to check the pictures on my computer.
In the meantime, my sneaky toddler walked into the kitchen where I found her a minute later happily munching on one.
I love it when she eats my healthier recipes with joy though. Not that these crock pot meatballs are health food, but they’re made with turkey meat and no canned cranberry jelly whatsoever.
Instead the cranberry meatball glaze is made up of 100% juice, a bit of soy sauce and a little honey. If you leave out the dried cranberries, they’re entirely processed sugar free!
The best thing is how easy they are to make though. Prep takes 5 minutes, max.
You can use store-bought frozen meatballs, or you can make your own! I like to quadruple my recipe for how to make meatballs and stock my freezer with them.
And the rest of the work? Gets done by your slow cooker!
Printable recipe
5 Ingredient Cranberry Glazed Turkey Slow Cooker Meatballs
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 cup 100% cranberry-apple juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 (16-oz) bag frozen fully-cooked turkey meatballs
- 4 tablespoons sweetened dried cranberries optional
Instructions
- Combine the juice, soy sauce and honey in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cornstarch on top and whisk it together well.
- Add the frozen meatballs to a 3.5-quart slow cooker. Pour the juice mixture on top and sprinkle with dried cranberries, if using.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until the meatballs are hot in the middle. Remove the lid and finish cooking uncovered for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Emma says
Hi Nora!
If I was planning on doubling the amount of meatballs would, how much would I need to increase the sauce (double as well?).
Would I need to change the cooking time?
Nora Rusev says
Hi Emma! Yes, double the sauce! Definitely use a 5-6 quart crock pot, then the cooking time won’t change at all 🙂 hope that helps!
Corey says
If I were to go about making my own meatballs for this recipe, how would that change the cooking time in the actual slow cooker? I know I’d have to cook the meatballs in a frying pan or oven first, but once I transfer them to the slow cooker with the sauce, so I adjust the cook time in there?
Nora says
Hi Corey, no! The slow cooker time doesn’t change. Hope that helps 🙂
Betsi Bauer says
I have cranberry grape juice and wondering if that would be ok to use in this recipe.
Nora says
Hi Betsi, yes that should absolutely work!
Sarah says
Hi! Do you cook the frozen meatballs on high for 2 1/2 hours or low?
Thank you!
Nora says
Hi Sarah, on high! Hope that helps 🙂
cindy arsenault says
I have a hard time being able to find frozen meatballs of any kind that doesn’t have milk in it. I am allergic to dairy. is there a way to make these with ground turkey?
Nora says
Hi Cindy, thanks for asking! Sure, no problem – I’ve made this exact recipe with homemade turkey meatballs a few times as well, and they turn out fabulous! Just follow the instructions for the meatballs in this recipe: https://www.savorynothings.com/sticky-bbq-slow-cooker-meatballs/ using ground turkey instead of ground beef (you can leave out the shallot if you don’t like it). Do make sure to cook them through in a frying pan before adding them to the slow cooker with the sauce, else they might fall apart. Hope it works out for you 🙂
Debbie says
can I make this with out cooking it in crocpot if my meatballd are area cook??
Nora says
Hi Debbie, thanks for asking! If your meatballs are already cooked you can simply pour the ingredients for the glaze into a large pot and bring it to a boil. Allow it to simmer until it has thickened to the consistency you can see in the recipe video. It shouldn’t take long, 10 minutes maybe! Then add the meatballs and heat through – done! Hope you’ll enjoy the recipe!
marcie says
Nora, I just want to dive into these meatballs — they look so juicy and delicious! Your photos are just stunning too — pinned to try!
Nora says
Thank you so, so much Marcie! I appreciate the pin!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Haha! I love that your daughter helped herself to one of these meatballs! Smart girl, because these are seriously GORGEOUS, Nora! I’m most likely going to have tons of leftover cranberries after Thanksgiving and now I know what I’m filling my crockpot with! 😀
Nora says
She is a smart girl, especially when it comes to food 😉 Thanks so much Sarah, you’ll love these 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice says
My slow cooker is one of my favorite appliances, especially when the weather gets cooler. These meatballs look fantastic, Nora! I love that they’re just five ingredients and have a cranberry glaze! So perfect for the season!
Nora says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Gayle!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I need these meatballs! I got my first slow cooker just over a year ago too and it’s been a game changer. What had I done before? This is my kind of holiday food!
Nora says
Yay, I’m not the only one late to the slow cooker party 😀 Thanks Alyssa!
Annie says
You know I am so anti holiday food but this is totally my kind of food!! I love that you used the cran-apple juice in the sauce vs canned cranberry! That is so clever! I usually make a batch of meatballs and stick them in the freezer so I can pull them out in a hurray and just add a sauce, I am definitely going to try this!
And as always, stunning photos!
Nora says
Yeah, you holiday food rebel 😉 Making a big batch of meatballs to freeze is on my list once we get our bigger freezer – what a great idea! Thanks Annie!
Mariah @ Mariah’s Pleasing Plates says
Okay so Stella totally goes and steals the stuff that I photograph too!
I LOVE these meatballs! Absolutely beautiful!
Nora says
Haha, glad mine isn’t the only one 😉 Thanks Mariah!